Hydraulic air-compressor



(Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. A.' BABGOGK. 1 HYDRAULIC AIR ooMPREssoR-- No'. 253,830. Patented Feb. 21,1882.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

(Model.)

W. A. BABCOOK. l HYDRAULIC A18 8081188.88808.

FIG

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A, BABCocK, on ',soUTH CoVEN'raY, CONNECTICUT, AssIGNoR, To

BIsHOP a BABCOCK, 0E. CLEVELAND, OHIO.

HYDRAULIC AIR-COMPRESSOR.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letterslatent No.y 253,830, `dated February 2.1, 1882.

Appncanon fnea June 22, Isar. (Modem To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. BABCOCK, of South Coventry, Tolland county, Connecticut, have inventedcertain-newand useful Improvements in Automatic Hydraulic Air- Gompressors, of which the following is a speci; iicationl A This invention relates to that class of small automatic air compressors or pumps-operated by the water-pressure from the street-mains, andV now employed as alle or beer pumps, for compressing air into the barrels or kegs, and thus expelling theliquid therefrom to the taps, as required, such as is shown in the patent to Bishop and Glass, June 22, 1880. These cornpressors usually consist of two cylinders or vessels mounted on the ends of a rocking beam, provided with `a water-valve operated by the rockin g motion of the beam to control the iow of Water to each cylinder alternately, and thus produce a continued rocking motion of the beam and the expulsion of the air from each cylinderalternately. Thewaterpassesthrough, an automatic lthrottle or regulator on its way to the cylinders, which operates either to shut ofi' the water and stop the action of the pump when a determined pressure of ail` is accumulated, or to admit the water and again 'start the pump as soon as the pressure falls by'a draft from the tap. 'p .f

The present invention is an improvement on the aforesaid patent, and relates to the special',

tlc, and the air and water vents of the cylin-l ders, whereby greater compactness,sin1plic ity, and efficiency are secured, as hereinafter.

set forth. i

Figure lot'thc drawings annexed gi resa longitudinal elevation of the improved aircompressor with a part of the supporting tray or base broken away.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional' elevation on line x ad of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section of the water throttlngor regulating valve 3 and Fig. 5, an enlarged perspective sectional Fig. 2 is a vertical l0n. gitudinal section ot' the tray and the rocking. pump-cylinders, with the other parts removed.`

view ofthe water slide-valve of the rocking cylinders. The base of the apparatus, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, consists, as usual, of a largesink or tray, a a., into which the waste or exhaust water from the compressor-cylinders is discharged, and which tray has a coupling, b, to connect with the waste-pipes, whereby the exhaust-water is conducted off as fast as it is dis: charged from the cylinders.

From the middle of the base of the tray, andv toward Vthe rear side thereof, rise standards e 6o e, Yon which the rock-shaft fof the rocking beam gis journaled, and the.pump or com# presser cylinders h l1l are xed on the opposite ends of said beam in the usual manner, as illustrated.

From the middle of the beam project two lugs, z t', (see Figs. 2 and 3,) one on either side of the rock-shaft, on which lugs is fixed the Water slide-valve J, which controls the ow of water to each cylinder alternately, and as this 7o valve is thus fixed on the rocking beam,'the valve thus rocks with the beam ,but a forked projection, k, extending from'the standards e e, as seen in Figs. 1,2, and3, engages theoperating-rod 'm of the valve,`and thus reciprocates 75 the valve-plungern r at each oscillation of the beam, so as to cause the direction ofthewater v vtoso change at each oscillationv as to iow al` ways into the cylinder whichisthe highest, asl illustratedjbyarrows ini Fig. 1. This val-ve 8o acts in the same manner and its'principal con! struction is the ysame as that shown in the prev ius 'patent referredfto; but it differs chiefly in the construction of its sustainingframethat is, as seen rin Fig. 5, the valve-casing con 8 5 sists of three cylindrical sections, ZZ l,ttin`g endwise into each other, as shown, with the section at onezend'tting against the fixed head nl of the sustainingframc mand a movable head or cap, a", itting against the oppositeend '9o section, while al hollow. screw, o, working through the opposite end of the frame a, bears against the said head and bindsthe said' sections irmly together. The sustaining-'framen` thus incloses or extends around the sections of the valVe-cylinderin the form of an elongated oval ring, as seen in Fig. 5, and as this frame may be cast in one piece, as shown, and as the sections of the valve-cylinder are thus held in rm position therein by the one screw o, this construction is hence a great improvement in simplicity, strength, and compactness over the loose end heads and connecting-bolts or spacer-ports heretofore used.

1' is the sliding valve-plunger, which is hollow or tubular, closed at each end, and works centrally through the valve-cylinder and through small cup-leathers d introduced between each section of the cylinder and the end heads, which leatherseform stuffing-boxes to prevent leakage at each protruding end ofthe plunger, and also water-tight partitions between the valve-ports l 2 3, each of which extendsfrom .a distinct section of the valve-cylinder, as shown. It may therefore be seen that, asthe valve-plunger protrudes at each end and exposes its cylindrical sides only` to the pressure, it thus becomes balanced; and, furthermore, as all joints of the valve consist of leather packings, the valve is thus not only balanced, but is rendered very tight and easy moving, and is thus particularly suited for its purpose. The central port., 2, ot' the valvecylinder connectswith the water-supply, and the outer ports, 13, conneetwith the pump-cylinders hh, as shown in Fig. l. The valveplunger i' has` two rows of perforations, as shown in Fig. 5, at a distance equal to .that between the central and outer ports, so that when the plunger is slid inward, as in Fig. 5, the water will ow out at the ri ght-hand port and to the ri ght-hand pump-cylinder, and when the plunger is slid outward, as in Fig. l, the water will low out through the left-hand port l andto the left-hand cylinder.

Thebase of the valve-frame u is formed with feet 4 4, by which the valve is screwed or fixed to the lugs i z' on the rocking beam, as before described, and as shown best in Figs. 3 and 5. The actuating end of the valve-plungern is connected by the rigid cross-bar 5 with the operating-rod m, which runsparallel with the valve, and isguided through wings 6 6 pro.

jecting from the valve-frame u, and on this rod isclamped a sleeve, from which a pin, 7, projects, which pin is engaged by the fixed fork k on the standards c, so that as the beam with.

the attached valve and cylinders rock the valve-plunger is shifted correspondingly to admit the water always into the cylinderon the highest side.

As the valve in the. present improvement is xed on the rocking beam vand rocks with it, hence the pipesS S, which connect each cylinder with the corresponding valve-ports, may bemade rigid and of metal soldered or screwed together at the connections, in lieu of rubber pipesheretofore used, which .is an advantage. The pipe u, however, which conveys thewater to the central port, requires to be tlexible,.as heretofore.

F indicates the automatic water throttle valve or regulator, which in this case is of iinproved construction, and is shown in elevation in Fig. l and in enlarged section in Fig. 4. This valve has a coupling, s, projectingfrom one side, which is connected by hose or lead pipe with the water-supply pipes, and fromedge for embedment in the soft valve-face, as

will he understood. The valve-plunger passes through astufng-box and extends downward, having a convex head on its lower end, which rests on a diaphragm, an, in the diaphragmchamber w', which forms the base ot' the regulator.l As the plunger c simply rests on the diaphragm, the construction is more simple and durable andthe 'motion of the diaphragm more easy than when the plunger is fastened to the diaphragm. A weighted lever, y, arranged as shown, or in any equivalent manner, projects through a slot in about the middle ot' the plunger, and tends to constantly depress the plunger, so as to force down the diaphragm m and Ykeep the throttle c open, so as to allow the water to iiow to the slide-valve J, and thus keep the compressor in action. The air, however, which the water compresses in and ex pels from the cylinders is discharged through -the pipesf and iiexible tube g', (see Fig. 1,)

which connects to a small check and oat valve chamber, h', which opens from the side of the diaphragm-chambers', as shown best in Fig. 4, and from a nipple on the -top of this valve-chamber h a iiexible pipe, g, is led to the barrels, liegs, or other vessels into which it isdesired to force the compressed air. It will hence be seen that the back-press Iure of this compressed air is constantly exlerted on the underside ot' the diaphragm, tending to lift the same in opposition to the tendency ofthe weighted lever i so as to close the throttle v, shut ott' the water, and stop the pump, which it will do whenever the pressure of the compressed air exceeds the pressure of the weighted lever, so that hence by adjust ing the weight in or out on the lever the apparatusI may be set to pump and charge the lregs up to a certain pressure, and then stop and start again as soon as this pressure is reduced by a draft from the beer-taps. 'In this regulator, moreover, the action is direct, for the air-pressure acts directly on the diaphragm a' and throttle-valve c, which latter shuts oft' the when the valve is closed the water-pressure has no tendency to open it 5 but the weighted lever IOC 253,830 f f e entirely controls the opening of f the valve, whereby the.adjustment of the weighted lever is rendered independent of the water-pressure, and hence thev regulating action is rendered more sensitive and accurate.

An adjustable spring may of course be used in lieu of a'weighted lever to load thc valve; but the latter is preferable.

The valve H of the valve-chamber h', (see Fig. 4,) which is preferably of ball form, not only yacts as a check-valve, but also as a floatvalve and Water-trap to intercept and retain any water which may overflow from the pumpcylinders through the air-pipes f g'. This valve is made lighter than water, preferably of rubber, in the form oi' a solid ball,.but suEti- "'ciently pure, so as to float in water, and at the same time form an elastic and durable valve. It will hence be seen that should any overflow of water enter the valve-chamber the floatvalve H will rise and close the orice ot' the nipple It, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig.

l 4, thus preventing the outflow of thiswater to thebeer-barrels and causing it to run into and accumulate in the diaphragm-chamber m', from which it may be removed by opening the petcock x. This regulator and trap is thus not only of very simple and efficient construction, .but is adapted to meet all the contingencies arising in the operation of these compressors, and forms a material part of my improvement.

Supposing the parts to be in the positions n v shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4, the water will iiow through the throttle or regulator to the central port ofthe slide-valve J, and thence through the open port on the high side to the raised cylinder 71 into which it will tlow,.and `thus compress the confined air therein, which will thence lift the check-valve 7c in the head of the cylinder (see Fi g.2) and flow ott' through the pipes fg, valve-chamber h', and pipe g to the beer-barrel or other receptacle. At the same time the check lc" in the depressed cylinder is closed by the back-pressure ofthe compressed air, and the air and water vents of this cylinder a-rc opened, as illustrated in Fig. 2, so as to allow the water to'escape and the atmospheric air to enter and again fill the cylinder, and as soon as thewater under pressure has risen suthciently high in the raised cylinder and the spent water has flown out ofthe ,depressed cylinder the raised end of the beam thus becomes overbalanced and descends, reversing the position of the cylinders, the position of thc valve, the ilow of the water, andA the action of the'several parts, as will be nnderstood, so as to keep up the rocking motion of the beam. 4

The remaining features of my invention llie in the construction of the air and water vents of the' cylinders, which are clearly shown by the sectional view in Fig. 2. Thus in the base of the'cylinder is formed an opening, o', over which is mounted a valve-disk, p', which is secured to the lower end of a tube, r,'which rises throughy the cylinder into the top end The disk p forms the water-vent valve, and

the' disk t the air-vent valve, and it will be observed that when either cylinder is raised these valves will close first by their own weight and confine the air already in the cylinder, and will thence close tighter by the pressure of the entering water, so as vto prevent .theescape of the air or water while the cylinder his raised and becoming filled, as shown on thelett of Fig. 2. As soon, however, as one( cylinder becomes'tilled and descends, as on the right ot' Fig. 2, the wire c strikes the protuberance u', which iirst raises the air-vent valve t from t-he top otl the tube r', and a projection or pin, w', on the wire n then strikes the base ot' the tube and raises the tube bodily, and thus opens the water-venup, thus' allowing the spent water to ilow out and the atmospheric 'air to flow in to supplyits place, as shown in Fig. 2.

In lien ot the pin w', a collar or other stop.

thus be seen that by this construction of vents noto'nly do I relieve the pressure on the waterventbefore it is opened, but I render the construction and action of these vents very simple,.e'asy, and certain, and have them placed and concealed entirely within the cylinders, obviating the cumbersome external air-vent with weighted valve-levers, as heretofore cmployed.

On the bottom ot' the tray a are xed the usual cushions, z z, against which the cylinders strike when they descend, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2, thus softening and limiting their fall; and near these cushions triangular shaped' flanges y y arise under the cylinders, from the base of the tray a, and at one side of the waterexhaust ports ofthe cylinders, as fully shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3. These -lianges form one feature ot my invention, and act as guards to prevent the splashing ofthe water over the side of the tray when it rushes out of the cylinder, as will be readily understood. l

It will be obvious that most of the features IOO of my invention may be used in any Vform ot hydraulic air-pump, whether ofthe single or double acting kind-thatis, having either one or two cylinders-or of that kind in which the cylinders themselves rock, as herein illustrated, or of' that class in which the cylinders are fixed, while pistons moving within them connect to a walking-beam which operates the valves.

What I claim isl. The combination, with a rocking pump substantially such as described, of a4 slidevalve governing-the flow to each pump-cylinder alternately, mounted or fixed on the rocking beam at or near the axis thereof', with a fixed fork or projection extending f'rom the support or base of' the pump and engaging the sliding portion of' the valve, so as to shif't the same at each rock of the beam, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. rEhe combination, with a rocking pump such as described, of a valve controlling the flow to cach cylinder alternately, fixed on the rocking beam at or near the axis thereof", with a fixed projection engaging the operating part ofthe valve, so astto move and shift the same at each rock of the beam, with rigid pipes extending from .the opposite ports of the valve directly to the corresponding pump-cylinders on the ends of the beam, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with a sliding valveplungcr, r, substantially such as herein de- Y scribed, having an inclosing-cylinder, ll, from which the ports proceed, f'ormed in sections abutting one against the other, with a fixed sustaining-frame, n, 'formed to inclose or embrace said sections, with a fixed head at one end, against which the one end ofthe sections abut, and a fixed head at the opposite end,

through which a clamping device extends, bears upon the opposite end of the sections, and binds the whole together rmly in said f'rame.

4. The combination, with the sliding valveplunger i', substantially such as described, of the inclosing sectional cylinder l l, rigid sustaining-frame n, and hollow screw' 0, clamping said sectional cylinder in said frame and inclosing the protruding end of' the valve-plunger, substantially as herein shown and de scribed.

5. The combination, with the sliding valveplunger Ir, of the parallel operating-rod in,

` coupled thereto,with the rigid sustaining-frame a, holding theinclosing-eylinder ofl said valve,

and formed with the lateral guide-wings 6 6,

through which said operating-rod'slides, substantially as herein shown and described.

6. The combination,with a hydraulic air-compresser, of' an automatic water-regulator constructed with an adjustably-loaded throttlevalve, arranged to directly throttle the flow of water to the pump, in combination with a diaphragm actuated by the directpressure of the air compressed to close said throttle, substantiallyxas herein shown and' described.

structed with an adjustably-wcighted throttlevalve forced to its seat by the pressure of the compressed air, and having its seat arranged llateral to the flow of water, whereby its movements are independent ofthe water-pressure, substantially as herein set forth.

8. Thecombination, with anautomatic pump substantially such as described, of an automatic water throttle-valve formed with the'valve plunger o, having one end lacting as the throttie-valve and the opposite end 'resting loosely or diseonnectedly upon a diaphragm against which the back-pressure is exerted, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In an automatic hydraulic air-pump, the combination, with a supply of' water under pressure andan air vessel or vesselsl into which said water is admitted to compress 'and displace the air therefrom, of' a pipeleading from said air-vessels to a beer-barrel or other receptacle into which the air isdischarged, with an accumulating trap or drip-chamber arranged on said pipe between the said air-vessel and the said receptacle, whereby any water overfowing from the air-vessel through the airpipe maybe accumulated andreinoved without being f'orced into the receptacle, substantially as herein set forth.

10. The combination, with an automatic pump such as set forth, ot'an automaticl 'water-throttle having its diaphragm-chamber x connected with the air-discharge pipes from the pump-cylinders, and arranged to form an accumulating drip-chamber on said pipes to receive overflowing water which may enter the same,with a cock, on said diaphragm-chamber to allow said drip or overflow to escape, substantially as herein set forth.

11. The combination, with anautomatic hydraulicair-pumpsubstantiallysuch assetforth, of'an accumulatin gdri p or trap chamber located on the air-discharge pipe between the pump-cylinders and the beer-barrel or receptacle into which the air is discharged, with a detached float inelosed thereby and adapted on theoverflow ofwater into said chamber to rise against and close the outlet-orifice of said chamber, ywhereby one part forms both a fioat and valve and acts to confine or trap said overfiowuntil removed from the chamber, substantially as herein shown and described.

12. In a hydraulic air-pump substantially such as set forth,the guards or fianges y', arising from the sink or tray into which the cylinders discharge, and adjacent to and at one side of the discharge-ports of the cylinders, whereby splash is prevented. substantially as herein shown and described. A

13. The combination, with the pump-cylinderl of an automatic hydraulic air-pumps'ubstantially such as set forth, of' air'and water vvent valves operatively connected'through the saine actuating device, with a play or interval between the two valves, Awhereby-both valves are opened by one action, but the air-"ent in advance of the water-vent, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

14. The combination, with the pump cylinder or chamber of a hydraulic air-pump, of an air-vent .valve mounted on the top of a tube opening from the base of the cylinder and rising therein, with a Wire or rod operating said valve through said tube from the base of the cylinder, substantially as herein shown and described.

15. The combination, with the pump cylinder or chamber of a hydraulic air-pump, of a wa- .eaaao A 5 ter-'vent valve opening in the base of said cylinder, with a tube, r', xed to and rising from said valve into the top of the cylinder and open throughout, together with an air-vent valve, t', mounted on the top of said tube, andan operating device arranged to lift both valves successively, substantially as herein shown and described.

WM. A. BAICOGK.

Witnesses J. C. BRUGLETZ, W. G. STEINMETZ. 

